Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘Baby Seal’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Baby Seal’ particularly characterized by flowers which are white; within the labellum some yellow and purple; plants which may be propagated economically and uniformly using tissue culture; plants which produce more than one inflorescence; long and sturdy inflorescences; and relatively short, dark-green foliage.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Phalaenopsishybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Baby Seal’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/478,813, filed Apr. 25, 2011 and Netherlands Plant Breeders' RightsApplication No. OPS795, filed Apr. 27, 2011. The disclosure of bothprior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis of the Orchidaceaefamily, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baby Seal’.

Phalaenopsis comprises a genus of about 55 species of herbaceousperennials many of which, or the hybrids thereof, are suitable forcultivation in the home or greenhouse. Phalaenopsis is predominantlyepiphytic or rock-dwelling, and is native to tropical Asia, the MalayArchipelago, and Oceania. The species typically has 2-ranked, fleshy,oblong or elliptic leaves affixed to a short central stem (monopodialgrowth), which vary in size from 5 to 8 inches to over 2 feet. Theleaves may be entirely green or mottled with silver grey.

Phalaenopsis orchids, often referred to as ‘Moth Orchids’ in thehorticultural trade, are frequently used to furnish cut flowers for theflorist trade or sold as flowering potted-plants for home orinteriorscape.

Phalaenopsis produces upright or pendent lateral racemes, often withmany showy flowers which open in succession beginning with thelowermost. The flowers possess three sepals and three petals; thelateral ones being alike. The lowermost petal, called the labellum, isthree-lobed and is often more brightly-colored than the other flowersegments. Flower colors include various shades of pink, white, yellowand red-brown.

Phalaenopsis orchids are typically propagated from seeds. Asexualpropagation of Phalaenopsis is often done from off-shoots whichfrequently arise from the lower bracts of the inflorescence. Theresulting plants are detached from the mother plant and may be plantedin a suitable substrate.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Baby Seal’ is a product of a controlled breedingprogram conducted by the inventor, René Schoone, in Strengweg,Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was todevelop a new Phalaenopsis cultivar particularly characterized by itsattractive and unique colored flowers, economical propagation via tissueculture, rapid growth, and a plant dimension suitable for packaging andshipping to the market.

The new Phalaenopsis ‘Baby Seal’ originated from a cross made by theinventor in 1998 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The female orseed parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivar designated ‘Sogo Yukidian’,unpatented. The male or pollen parent is the Phalaenopsis cultivardesignated ‘World Class’, unpatented. The new Phalaenopsis ‘Baby Seal’was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in2006 in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis cultivar by tissue culturewas first performed in November, 2006 in Cieweg 13, Heemskerk, TheNetherlands, and has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmlyfixed and retained through successive generations of asexualreproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Baby Seal’, which in combinationdistinguish this Phalaenopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. flowers which are white; within the labellum some yellow and        purple;    -   2. plant produces more than one inflorescence;    -   3. plants may be propagated economically and uniformly using        tissue culture;    -   4. inflorescences are long and sturdy; and    -   5. relatively short, dark-green foliage.

In comparison with the parental cultivars of ‘Baby Seal’, the femaleparent ‘Sogo Yukidian’ has white flowers and they are about 12 cm insize, the male parent ‘World Class’ has white colored flowers and theyare about 10 cm in size, whereas the flowers of ‘Baby Seal’ are whiteand are about 11 cm in size.

Presently, there is no commercial cultivar to which ‘Baby Seal’ can bemeaningfully compared.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Phalaenopsis ‘Baby Seal’ showing the colors as true as is reasonablypossible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of‘Baby Seal’.

FIG. 1 shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering plant of‘Baby Seal’ in a 12 cm pot, at 16 months of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up view of the typical buds and flowers of ‘BabySeal’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the typical leaves of ‘Baby Seal’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘Baby Seal’ has not been observed underall possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivarmay vary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘Baby Seal’ asgrown in a greenhouse in Strengweg, Heemskerk, The Netherlands, underconditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercialpractice. Initially, the ideal temperature to grow plants of ‘Baby Seal’is 27° C. during the day and at night. Then, during the flowering phaseof ‘Baby Seal’, the ideal growing temperature is 20-22° C. during theday and 18° C. at night. Light levels for growing ‘Baby Seal’ are aminimum of 5,000 lux and a maximum of 10,000 lux. A balanced fertilizerwith level of 200 ppm N, 87 ppm P, 168 ppm K is applied. Duration ofgrowth of ‘Baby Seal’ from potting size is between 10 and 14 months.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2007 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately noon in Zaandammerweg, Assendelft, The Netherlands. Theage of the ‘Baby Seal’ plants described is 12 months after potting.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female or seed parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘Sogo Yukidian’, unpatented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar designated            ‘World Class’, unpatented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Tissue culture.        -   Rooting habit and description.—Approximately 5 mm-7 mm wide            and greyed/green (RHS 190B and RHS 195A) in color; freely            branching. It takes 12 weeks for plants growing in tissue            culture to initiate roots.-   Plant:    -   -   Size at maturity.—Height: about 67 cm. Spread: about 40 to            50 cm.        -   Growth habit.—Standard; green (RHS N137B) leaves and a            relatively normal raceme.        -   Vigor.—Moderate.        -   Crop time.—Following asexual propagation, at about 26 weeks            2 leaves appear; at about 30 weeks 3-4 leaves appear; after            a cold treatment of about 4-8 weeks at a temperature of            about 19° C. about 2 peduncles with flowers appear.-   Foliage:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 6 to 8 leaves are produced before            flowering.        -   Arrangement and attachment.—Half up/horizontal and on two            sides.        -   Overall shape of leaf.—Oval, the tip is blunt and            asymmetric.        -   Texture (upper and under surface).—Smooth and leathery.        -   Pubescence.—None.        -   Mature leaf length.—About 15 to 25 cm.        -   Mature leaf width.—About 7 to 9 cm.        -   Mature leaf thickness.—About 2 mm.        -   Mature leaf color.—Upper side: green, RHS N137B. Under side:            green, RHS 137C.        -   Leaf base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Venation.—Pattern: parallel. Color of midvein: Upper side:            green, RHS N137B. Under side: green, RHS 137C.-   Raceme:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—About 1 to 2.        -   Number of flowers per raceme.—About 5 to 10.        -   Length.—About 65 to 70 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright.        -   Texture.—Glabrous and smooth.        -   Color.—A combination of brown (RHS N200A) with yellow-green            spots (RHS 144B).        -   Internode.—Length: about 35 mm and 45 mm.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, racemose            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Buds.—Height (from base to tip): about 15 to 25 mm. Diameter            (at midpoint): about 15 to 25 mm. Shape: egg-shaped. Color:            yellow-green RHS 145C with some purple RHS N79C.        -   Flowering time.—For an untreated plant (flowering plant that            has not undergone cold-treatment where the plant grows at a            temperature of 18° C. to 19° C. for about 4 to 8 weeks after            a period of about 30 weeks at a temperature of 25° C.), 2            racemes appear with about 16 to 20 flower buds and flowers            per inflorescence. First flowers can be expected            approximately 4 to 6 months after planting a plant with a            leaf diameter of 3 to 5 cm. Flowers persistent.        -   Flowering longevity.—On the plant: about 4 to 6 months;            lastingness of cut flowers: has not been observed.        -   Fragrance.—No fragrance.        -   Flower.—Rate of opening: Flowers fully opened about 2 to 3            days after petal and sepal separation. Orientation at            opening: slanted upward and outward. Shape: Typical shape of            phalaenopsis orchid; see FIG. 2. Size: Height: about 90 mm.            Diameter: about 110 mm. Depth of tube: about 20 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: six petals and sepals that            are trimerous, overlapping and arranged in 2 whorls. Petals            are more pronounced than sepals. Arrangement: Inner whorl of            petals comprises 3 petals, 2 lateral petals and labellum. 2            lateral petals: Overall shape: broadly ovate and weakly            cupped. Apex: oval. Margin: entire and weakly undulate.            Base: broadly ovate. Length: about 70 mm. Width: about            50 mm. Texture: Upper surface: smooth and satiny. Under            surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper            & under surface: white (RHS NN155C). Labellum: Overall            shape: 3-lobed with 2 prominent callosities at central            junction of the lateral lobes and base of the midlobe.            Lateral lobes of labellum fold upward about the column; the            midlobe extends forward and is terminated by 2 short            filiform appendages at the apex. Lateral lobes of the            labellum are ovate in shape while the midlobe is triangular            with a bump and a rib on it. Margin: entire and weakly            undulate. Apex: oval. Length: about 20 mm. Width (not            flattened): about 25 mm. Texture: Upper and under surface:            smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): Upper surface:            Midlobe: The main color is white (RHS NN155C). The top edges            of the midlobe are greyed-orange (RHS 171A). The corners on            the sides are yellow (RHS 2B). Also little yellow in center            at the base. Lateral lobes: main color is white (RHS            NN155C). At the base are red-purple stripes (RHS 71A). Lower            edge close to the base greyed-orange (RHS 171A) and then            yellow (RHS 2B). Under surface: Midlobe: main color is white            (RHS NN155C). At the corners some green-yellow (RHS 1B) and            at the base some greyed-orange (RHS 171B). Lateral lobes:            main color is white (RHS N155C). Bottom edges are            green-yellow (RHS 1B). Closer to the base also some            greyed-orange (RHS 171B) on the edges. Chirri: about 26 mm.            color: white (RHS NN155C) with yellow (RHS 2B) on the end.            Pestle (Callosities): Length: about 4 mm. Width (not            flattened): about 6 mm. Color: yellow (RHS 9B) with            red-purple spots and stripes (RHS 71A).        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Outer whorl comprises 3 sepals. Overall            shape: elliptical and weakly cupped. Margin: entire and            weakly undulate. Length: about 50 mm to 60 mm. Width: about            30 mm to 40 mm. Apex: oval/round. Texture: Upper and under            surface: smooth and satiny. Color (when fully opened): upper            surface: white (RHS NN155C). At the base of the lateral            sepals is green-yellow haze (RHS 1D) spread over the ground            color. Under surface: white (RHS NN155C) with a haze of            green-yellow (RHS 1D) and red-purple (RHS 64B) at the base,            spread over the ground color.        -   Pedicel.—Length: about 40 mm. Diameter: about 3 mm. Texture:            glabrous and smooth. Color: yellow-green RHS 145C with RHS            146C.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Arrangement.—The stamens, style and stigmas are fused into a            single, short structure called the column, possessing one            terminal anther with pollen grains united into a pollinia,            which are covered by an anther cap. The stigma is located            under the column behind the pollinia. The ovary is inferior            with three carpels present. The plant has not produced seed.        -   Column.—Length: about 8 mm. Diameter: about 7 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C).        -   Pollinia.—Quantity: Two. Diameter: about 1 mm. Color: orange            (RHS N25A).        -   Ovary.—Length: about 5 mm. Diameter: about 6 mm. Color:            white (RHS NN155C).-   Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 15° C.    and to a high temperature about 30° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘BabySeal’, as illustrated and described herein.